Report Title:

Emergency Appropriation; Budget Shortfall; General Assistance

 

Description:

Emergency appropriation to address the budget shortfall for general assistance payments in April, May, and June of 2009.  (SD2)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1064

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET SHORTFALL.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  This part is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  A critical funding emergency exists.  The general assistance program is a block grant program.  The maximum allowance a general assistance recipient may receive is determined by dividing the amount of the appropriation by the number of general assistance recipients.  The general assistance program will expend all appropriated funds before the end of the current fiscal year and the department will be unable to maintain the current maximum general assistance payment benefit.  The current assistance grant for disabled individuals is barely enough to cover living expenses for individuals on a fixed income who have no other viable means of support.  Stopping the grant payment or reducing the amount of the grant payment for these individuals poses a real threat to these individuals' health and safety.  To prevent the reduction of general assistance payments in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008‑2009, additional funds are urgently needed.

     The purpose of this part is to appropriate additional general funds to address expenses related to general assistance payments from the department of human services.

     SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, there is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii, the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for the months of April, May, and June of 2009 for the purpose of meeting the general fund shortfall to be used for general assistance payments.

     SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART II

     SECTION 5.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2077.